The police are awaiting forensic reports in the investigations into the police-involved shooting that left Joshua Samaroo dead and Kaia Sealy injured in January.
This was disclosed by Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro yesterday during a meeting at the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce’s office in Westmoorings.
Guevarro said the investigative side had been completed, but for the Director of Public Prosecutions to review the case, they needed the reports from the Forensic Science Centre, which are yet to be submitted.
As a result, he called for patience from interested parties.
“The investigation, as far as the police aspect is concerned, has reached to a point where we approached the Director of Public Prosecutions. What is outstanding are forensic reports. We don’t control that,” he said.
He explained that the forensic analysis required time and could not be expedited beyond established processes.
Guevarro said he understood that the public’s view on how quickly these reports were generated was influenced by what they saw on television; however, it was not such a quick process in real life, he said.
“That is the magic of Hollywood. You cannot look at TV shows and believe that is how things are done,” he said, noting that even international agencies such as the FBI experienced similar delays. “Sometimes it takes months or even years.”
Guevarro acknowledged the concerns of families awaiting results and called for patience as investigations continued.
“So, I feel for the family and those who are waiting because I know it takes time…we want to make sure we get it right,” he said.
Guevarro maintained that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) remained committed to completing investigations thoroughly and ensuring that the evidence supported the outcomes.
He also said that he had initially been warned by legal officers in the TTPS against releasing video footage of the incident to the public; however, he said he stood by the decision he made.
He said the head of the legal department cautioned that releasing such material during an active investigation could prejudice proceedings and expose the police to additional scrutiny.
“I wanted to show the public what I am seeing,” he said. “At the end of the day, I am the leader of this organisation and I take the blows for it. I can stand before anybody and say I made a decision to do what I did.”
On January 20, police shot Samaroo and Sealy after a chase that ended when their vehicle crashed in a drain in St Augustine.
Samaroo was killed, while Sealy was paralysed. The incident, which was captured on video, fuelled public anger and renewed scrutiny of the police’s use of force.
Probes have been launched by the Professional Standards Bureau and the Police Complaints Authority.
